Sat, Mar 14 2009 - Learn to Ski or just Ski at Hardwood Hills. (View Original Event Details)
|  |
This was a very fun gathering in what promised to be one of the last good skiing days of this winter season.
Before we left the city, some were worried whether the ski trip could still happen that day: there was no sign of snow left in Toronto, and warmer temperatures in the past week would have melted much of the snow north of the city. But, Hardwood had confirmed that they did indeed have a good base of snow for skiing, and they had even had a fresh coat of snow a few days before! And, with the above-zero temperatures, it was going to be perfect for spring skiing.
So, fourteen of us gathered at Downsview station at 9:00, drove up to Hardwood Ski and Bike, got the relevant rentals sorted out, and we were ready for the ski trails by 11:00. The group came with varying degrees of experiences skiing: some had never been skiing before; others, skied on a regular basis.
Of the group, 3 people signed up for an informative ski lesson at 11:00. The instructor taught basic ski skills, and helpful corrective techniques. While 3 were engaged in a lesson at 11:00, the rest of the group were on the trails either alone, or in small groups. By early afternoon, everyone was out, and because the trails criss-cross one another, most of the group saw each other throughout the day.
It was a beautiful, sunny, and spring-like day. The morning and early afternoon skiing conditions were perfect. By late afternoon, however, the weather had warmed up such that some of the snow was becoming slightly slushy. The parking lot, which had been full of ice in the morning, was a muddy mess in the afternoon. Several rejoiced that spring was coming soon, while others lamented the end of the ski season.
Overall, a good time was had by all. It was great day, to end off a great season.
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.